Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-10-22
press almost without ex-

adopt them every one except the last
namely, "keep the Niger down."
Why do we adopt the two former
ones and not the last? Because they
are right when properly understood
and rightly applied: but the latter
is coordinate with the hating senti-
ment implied in the term "Nigger."
Again, why do we believe that the
colored man as citizan and Neigh
Dor has a 'place" as every other man
and should be found in it? Because
every man has "place" and it has
been rightly defined by thousands
who have discussed the subjects of
moral ethics and philosophy. Every
mans ''place" has long since been
defined and it is known and seen by
the highest mark of politeness in his
words and intercourse with other men,
whether they be white or colored
Socially speaking every man has
place in his own home, and he
is. or should be. the king of his own
castle. And if he has not got
home, he should know how to conduct
himself should the king be pleased to
invite him into his. We are glad
that the colored race has proved it to
be false that he is intrusive in his
conduct and would put himself where
he is not wanted, socially.
Put the idea of thrusting him
distance, ''nine times the space that
measures night and day." from all
the privileges of material and intel
lectual advancement is to be resented
at every step of the way.
But to the point. A nation or
people very often derives its name
from the locations, country and OBJ
jects by which they are surrounded,
but this is leaving the original
nationality or name by which it should
be known in the chronological
of families.
s.English," when traced out as
term by which the nations of the
western islands are known and called
is found to be mere modern word Or
name and so it is with many other
states and races
Now We wish to ask: If the term
NEGRO, lis appropriate or right when
by it the colored or black races of the
earth are known? If the term cannot
be found in their own tongue or
language then it is foreign and should
not be used to designate that family
of nations.
Then, we are brought to consider
the derivation or etymology of the
word or term We wish to say.
before attempting to give the etymol-
ogy of the word that it is not
generic in its application, because it
does not convey the sense of nation
ality. any more than term 'English'
means the race of Japheth, in a
generic sense.
We verify believe. were you to step
upon the shores of Africa and call one
of its tribes, negro, he would hardly
know what you meant We will give
the term as it is defined by modern
writers. In the English Cyclopedia,
published as late as 1859, We have
this definition of the term negro:
Zone of the black, woolly headed, fiat
noscd, and thick lip race of men in
haoltlng Africa.
Then. Wooster, an American author
goes on to make an adjective" for
English language out ofthe same word,
he says; Negro, of, or pertaining to
negroes. (Sce Wooster's Una
bridged.)
We find that the term is used in,
or found in the Italian, Spanish and
Portugue languages and these have
taken it from the Latin word Niger,
which means sable, dark, dusky, black,
etc; and so far as that is concerned,
we find other words in the Latin
tongue, implying OZARK, black, " etc.
such as, ''atrum." ''antrum," sob
scurum," and the former of these